The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has stated that Arik Air transported 2.2 million passengers via 10,699 flights, making it the second busiest airline in Nigeria for both passenger volume and operational flights during 2024.
The Nigerian aviation authority disclosed this information via an executive summary distributed to the press.
The report states that Arik Air transported 2,239,176 passengers from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, which has left analysts puzzled about how the carrier managed this accomplishment amid numerous challenges it faced during that period.
The airline attained this milestone during the management oversight of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, after accumulating an enormous debt.
The report indicates that even with its difficulties, Arik Air, which has been under AMCON management since 2017, handled 19.3 percent of the overall passenger traffic for 2024.
It accounted for 15.1 percent of the total 70,543 flights conducted by the 15 domestic airlines during the reviewed period.
The Executive Summary on both international and domestic flight operations in 2024, compiled by the NCAA, showed that Arik Air transported 1,112,358 incoming and 1,126,818 outgoing passengers during that year, amounting to a total of 2,239,176 passengers conveyed.
In contrast to other local airlines, Arik Air experienced just one case of overbooking or denied boarding across all 10,699 of its flights in 2024.
The General Secretary of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, Olumide Ohunayo, commended Arik for its performance under AMCON management.
He stated, "In 2024, Arik Air has performed remarkably well, even though it is currently under AMCON receivership."
According to the information provided by the regulatory body, Arik was placed at number two for domestic passenger traffic, having transported 2,239,176 passengers. This achievement highlights its robustness and effective leadership even amid difficult circumstances.
Boasting a 13.4 percent share of the domestic market from a total of 11.5 million passengers, Arik Air maintains its prominent position through robust operational efficiency. Even during receivership, this outcome underscores their stable operations. In spite of facing financial difficulties, numerous lawsuits, limited aircraft availability, and regulatory hurdles, the company kept providing dependable air transportation. Their success can be attributed to efficient route planning and successful optimization of customer demand.
It is important to mention that Arik Air experienced significant service interruptions because of a high court directive that grounded several of its planes last year. At that time, pursuing mediation would have been more advisable than immediately halting operations at the discretion of the executives.
Roland Iyayi, MD of Top Brass Aviation Limited, commented: "It is a significant accomplishment for Arik Air to carry 2.2 million passengers and claim the second spot in Nigeria’s domestic market, surpassing rivals such as Ibom Air with 1.3 million passengers, Max Air with 915,918, and Aero Contractors with 964,900, particularly when you consider the challenges the carrier faced during its period under receivership."
Arik Air has performed impressively considering its restricted ability to secure new funding, older aircraft fleet, and the regulatory challenges associated with its receivership.
The strategic backing provided by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) should be acknowledged for playing an essential part in stabilizing Arik Air. This assistance has ensured continuous operation and maintained passenger trust. In absence of AMCON’s involvement, the airline wouldn’t remain a significant entity within Nigeria’s aviation sector. The fact that Arik Air could prosper even during receivership underscores AMCON’s dedication to protecting employment, continuing economic impact, and delivering secure, dependable air travel options for Nigerians.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
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